World number 46 Matteo Berrettini battled past world number 71 Christopher O’Connell 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (8-6) after 2 hours and 13 minutes in two tight tie-breaks at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Berrettini hit 33 winners to win his first match of the year at Masters 1000 level.
The first four games went on serve before O’Connell earned his first break with a backhand passing shot in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Berrettini converted his third break-back point in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3 before saving a break point in the seventh game at deuce to hold serve for 4-3. Both players went on serve en route to the tie-break. O’Connell raced out to a 5-1 in the tie-break with two mini-breaks. Berrettini won four consecutive points to draw level to 5-5. Berrettini saved two set points before earned another mini-break on his third set point to win the tie-break 10-9 after 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Berrettini earned an early break in the first game of the second set, but he had to save a break point in the fourth game to hold his serve for 3-1. O’Connell broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5 as Berrettini was serving to stay in the match. Berrettini earned a break point in the 11thgame, but O’Connell saved it. Berrettini earned a match point with his 11th ace at 6-5. O’Connell saved it with an ace to draw level to 6-6, but Berrettini closed out the win on his second match point with a backhand volley.
Berrettini set up a second round match against Holger Rune, who leads 2-1 in his three head-to head series against the Italian player. Rune came back from one set down to win their most recent clash in Cincinnati last August.
Berrettini is confident in his body after withdrawing in the second round in the Tokyo second round against Arthur Fils with an abdominal issue.
“I am happy to be back here and healthy. I have never played him so did not know what to expect. Mentally it’s been tough. Too often I have ben thinking about how to be healthy and it’s something I have grown a bit tired of. I have been working hard to be able as less as possible about this. It was one of the goals of the match. It was one of the goals of the match. Not to think about my condition, just to enjoy the match, enjoy the atmosphere, which I did. Rune played very well las week. We played against each other last August in Cincinnati. I expect a great battle, but I am confident to have the chance to win the match”, said Berrettini.
